Fall 2021 Children's Sneak Previews

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red crested gecko :: Article Creator

Live Sloth, Tortoises Featured In New Rainforest Animal Exhibit At Academy Of Natural Sciences

The Academy of Natural Sciences will bring a bit of the rainforest to snowy Philadelphia next month with an enormous new exhibit featuring live plants and animals.

"Under the Canopy" will take up 4,800 square feet of the Drexel University museum, leaving the animals room to crawl, climb and hang from branches in their specially created habitats. Featured critters include boa constrictors, red-footed tortoises, crested geckos and an internet favorite: the two-toed sloth.

RELATED: Kids can learn how to tap maple trees, make syrup in Wissahickon Valley Park next month

Each day of the exhibit's multi-month run, animal handlers will lead presentations at 10:30 a.M. And 2:15 p.M. These shows will introduce visitors to 3-4 animals in the exhibit, highlighting their unique features, eating habits and survival tactics. Audience members may even get to touch a sloth or snake, though the animal lineup is subject to change.

Animal feedings and 1 p.M. Sloth training sessions — which include exercise and enrichment — will occur daily.

"Under the Canopy" also will feature inanimate animals in the form of life-size sculptures. The statues are climbable, and since they're not real, kids won't have to worry about a surprise gorilla attack.

The exhibit aims to educate visitors on conservation by offering advice and actions they can take to support rainforests. "Under the Canopy" opens Saturday, Feb. 17 and will close in early September. Tickets are $20 for adults and $16 for children.

Under the Canopy

Saturday, Feb. 17 to Monday, Sept. 2Academy of Natural Sciences at Drexel University1900 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy. Philadelphia, PA 19103

Follow Kristin & PhillyVoice on Twitter: @kristin_hunt@thePhillyVoiceLike us on Facebook: PhillyVoiceHave a news tip? Let us know.


Leopard Gecko Discovered At The Red Tower On York's Bar Walls

AN exotic reptile from the deserts of Asia made a 500-year-old historic tower in York its home.

The animal in question – an eight-inch long leopard gecko – turned up at the Red Tower on York's bar walls on Foss Islands in early January as council workers were preparing the tower to be opened to the public for the first time.

Chris Rainger, a volunteer with the Friends of Fishergate Tower, was in the Red Tower with council archaeologist John Oxley when they spotted the intriguing visitor.

He said: "We saw the gecko in the middle of the concrete floor. As it was quite cold it was sluggish and easy to catch.

"There had been building materials stored in the tower so I presume the gecko had been living in there.

"They eat spiders and insects, so there would have been plenty of food for it."

Although the tower is not used often there are gaps under the door which mean the gecko could have got in at any time, he said.

Council workmen, who were busy preparing the tower to be opened for Residents' Weekend on January 25-26, stepped in to help, scooped the gecko up and found a makeshift home for it in a baseball cap.

Since finding the gecko, Chris has done some research online and discovered the lizard is a leopard gecko, which is native to the deserts of Pakistan, Afghanistan and parts of India and is a popular pet in the UK.

The Red Tower, built in 1490, forms the only brick section of York's famous city walls.

A council spokesman said: "The staff were at the tower doing a health and safety inspection ahead of Residents' Weekend when they stumbled across the gecko, which gave them a bit of a shock.

"A member of our drainage team, who already has similar pets, is now looking after the gecko at his home and is going to give it the care it needs."

They have no idea how old the gecko could be, or how long it could have been in the tower, but it appeared to be in good condition.

If someone comes forward and can prove they are the gecko's rightful owner, the council would happily hand it back, he said.


Mist And Rime Create Natural Art In Inner Mongolia

image Mist lingers over frost-kissed trees as birds frolic, creating a serene image not unlike an ink painting. [Photo by Ding Genhou/Provided to chinadaily.Com.Cn]

Recently, a thick mist enveloped the Qiandaohu scenic area in Yuquan district, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, creating an ethereal frost-kissed scene.

Flocks of red-crested pochards swam on the lake amidst sparkling rime. One might be forgiven for confusing breathtaking photos of the moment for ink paintings.





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